BA connection to SAA via JNB
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club,BMI Diamond Club
Posts: 25
BA connection to SAA via JNB
Hi all,
I'm looking a flying from LHR to Gaborone via JNB with the first leg operated by BA and the second via SAA.
My question is, do you know if the two airlines have a agreement in place to allow flights to connect or baggage to transfer all the way through removing the need to come out of the airport in JNB and check back in again.
The reason for asking is that flight A lands at 0705 and flight B departs at 0955.
Thanks
I'm looking a flying from LHR to Gaborone via JNB with the first leg operated by BA and the second via SAA.
My question is, do you know if the two airlines have a agreement in place to allow flights to connect or baggage to transfer all the way through removing the need to come out of the airport in JNB and check back in again.
The reason for asking is that flight A lands at 0705 and flight B departs at 0955.
Thanks
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I'm looking a flying from LHR to Gaborone via JNB with the first leg operated by BA and the second via SAA.
My question is, do you know if the two airlines have a agreement in place to allow flights to connect or baggage to transfer all the way through removing the need to come out of the airport in JNB and check back in again.
The reason for asking is that flight A lands at 0705 and flight B departs at 0955.
My question is, do you know if the two airlines have a agreement in place to allow flights to connect or baggage to transfer all the way through removing the need to come out of the airport in JNB and check back in again.
The reason for asking is that flight A lands at 0705 and flight B departs at 0955.
However, I don't know whether BA would be able to issue the SA boarding pass at LHR - others may have better information about this. But even if BA can't, I think that should be no more than a minor inconvenience at JNB. With a 2:50 international-to-international connection, there shouldn't be any issues if the bags are through-checked. (I think you'd have a reasonable chance even if they aren't.)
#3
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, SAA Voyager
Posts: 214
Plenty of time to connect and you will be able to print out your boarding pass for Gabarone on flysaa.com before you travel.
Both BA and SAA use Amadeus so you’ll be able to manage your SAA booking easily (select seats, check in online etc) even if the ticket is issued on BA stock.
BA have a comprehensive interline agreement with SAA in Joburg to through check into SAA’s international flights so you’ll be fine.
Both BA and SAA use Amadeus so you’ll be able to manage your SAA booking easily (select seats, check in online etc) even if the ticket is issued on BA stock.
BA have a comprehensive interline agreement with SAA in Joburg to through check into SAA’s international flights so you’ll be fine.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club,BMI Diamond Club
Posts: 25
Ah excellent, so the booking itself would be placed as two separate bookings,one with BA to JNB and the second directly with SAA to Gabarone, will that still be ok to check all the way through from Heathrow?
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
Nope, BA won't check bags through on separate tickets.
In my experience JNB early morning can be quick, a nightmare or anything in between. It just depends what lands in which order. 3 hours could be tight for collecting bags and rechecking.
In my experience JNB early morning can be quick, a nightmare or anything in between. It just depends what lands in which order. 3 hours could be tight for collecting bags and rechecking.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
You should book one ticket, typically with BA as the first carrier, connecting to BA. Booking is irrelevant. All that matters is the ticket and it will have two segments. That is the entire purpose of an interline ticketing agreement. You may find that you need to book this by phone although start online to see what turns up.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: BAEC Bronze; ALL Gold
Posts: 128
My experience - admittedly a couple of years ago - of arriving in JNB on BA and transferring to SAA for their Airlink flights to Swaziland or Lesotho was that through baggage does not work, so I had to immigrate into SA (long queue in the morning when lots of flights arrive, but at least it's free), pick up the bag, take it to SAA desk and drop it off even though I had already checked in, and back through security and emigrate...
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club,BMI Diamond Club
Posts: 25
So for example this booking would work fine as a straight through transfer to Gabarone as it's booked completely with BA even though its two separate airlines?
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Blue, EI Silver, Honours Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,207
If booked on BA.com it will be on one ticket & BA 125- stock. I don't think BA.com can sell things like two tickets, one PNR, or other more complex variations a OTA or TA might be able to do.
If you are booking this as two separate tickets I would say there is no chance that BA will send your bags onto SA. You will need to clear immigration, collect your bags, pass through customs and then re-check your bags at JNB. Like the USA in SA you clear customs at the port of entry, not the final port of your journey. The EU is a bit of an outlier in this respect.
If your bags don't get tagged, there is an efficient bag drop in the international arrivals area at JNB. Its several years ago since I've done it on separate tickets and I cannot remember if the agents at LBA tagged the bags all the way through to CPT (it was two redemption tickets). I think they did and erroneously told us we would next see them in CPT - which I knew wasn't right. So just be careful to check your baggage receipts.
If you are booking this as two separate tickets I would say there is no chance that BA will send your bags onto SA. You will need to clear immigration, collect your bags, pass through customs and then re-check your bags at JNB. Like the USA in SA you clear customs at the port of entry, not the final port of your journey. The EU is a bit of an outlier in this respect.
If your bags don't get tagged, there is an efficient bag drop in the international arrivals area at JNB. Its several years ago since I've done it on separate tickets and I cannot remember if the agents at LBA tagged the bags all the way through to CPT (it was two redemption tickets). I think they did and erroneously told us we would next see them in CPT - which I knew wasn't right. So just be careful to check your baggage receipts.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
It seems as though you bought two separate tickets. That’s ok but it comes with risks.
In your situation, BA will not check through so you’ll have to collect your back and exit and recheck for your onward flight. If the BA flight is very late or cancelled, you’ll probably have to buy a new onward (return) ticket. These are the gremlins with multiple tickets. BA could have sold you a through ticket.
In your situation, BA will not check through so you’ll have to collect your back and exit and recheck for your onward flight. If the BA flight is very late or cancelled, you’ll probably have to buy a new onward (return) ticket. These are the gremlins with multiple tickets. BA could have sold you a through ticket.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
That's one booking for all flights so will work. If you book a return to JNB and then book the other flights and go through the process twice the through bag checks will not work.
#13
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Angus Scotland
Programs: BAEC Bronze, LH M&M
Posts: 177
Hi all,
I'm looking a flying from LHR to Gaborone via JNB with the first leg operated by BA and the second via SAA.
My question is, do you know if the two airlines have a agreement in place to allow flights to connect or baggage to transfer all the way through removing the need to come out of the airport in JNB and check back in again.
The reason for asking is that flight A lands at 0705 and flight B departs at 0955.
Thanks
I'm looking a flying from LHR to Gaborone via JNB with the first leg operated by BA and the second via SAA.
My question is, do you know if the two airlines have a agreement in place to allow flights to connect or baggage to transfer all the way through removing the need to come out of the airport in JNB and check back in again.
The reason for asking is that flight A lands at 0705 and flight B departs at 0955.
Thanks
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club,BMI Diamond Club
Posts: 25
Based on that ticket booking with BA should be a straight through, 1 ticket, bags checked all the way ticket?
Thanks
#15
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
International transits at JNB are fairly easy, whereas going through immigration, waiting for you bag, rechecking it then going though security and exit passport control is a pain and could easily 2 hours or more on a bad day.
Originally Posted by BrianDromey
Like the USA in SA you clear customs at the port of entry, not the final port of your journey.
Originally Posted by BrianDromey
Its several years ago since I've done it on separate tickets and I cannot remember if the agents at LBA tagged the bags all the way through to CPT (it was two redemption tickets). I think they did and erroneously told us we would next see them in CPT - which I knew wasn't right. So just be careful to check your baggage receipts.
Last edited by Steve_ZA; Sep 7, 2018 at 12:42 pm